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Fresh off consecutive trips to the AFC Divisional Round, the Houston Texans are entering 2025 training camp with both momentum and mounting pressure. After riding the electric rise of quarterback CJ Stroud to an unexpected playoff berth in his rookie year, Houston came crashing back to earth in 2024. A sophomore slump from Stroud and a second-half slide saw the team stumble into the playoffs. Of course, it was only to exit once again short of their Super Bowl aspirations.
The result? A franchise sitting at a fork in the road. Houston has ith sky-high expectations, a ticking financial clock, and the uncomfortable reality that this window to contend might already be shrinking.
The Texans went all-in during the 2024 offseason, aiming to take advantage of anf unexpected Super Bowl window that opened during Stroud’s spectacular rookie campaign. However, Stroud hit a sophomore slump. As such, Houston barely clawed its way into the playoffs with little hope of a deep postseason run.
They still have the advantage of Stroud’s rookie contract, but they need to recalibrate quickly to make the most of it. Houston has only $11.6 million in cap space. They also have high-priced veterans like Danielle Hunter, Dalton Schultz, Tytus Howard, and Joe Mixon eating up a big chunk of the budget. Now, the Texans are under pressure to make every dollar count during their shrinking championship window.
Houston remains a favorite to win the AFC South for a third straight year. They surely have the talent to be dangerous in the playoffs. However, if the team gets off to a slow start, it could trigger a trade-deadline sell-off.
After starting last season 6-2 and finishing 4-5, another late-season slide could prompt the front office to jumpstart a rebuild by offloading expensive veterans in return for draft picks and cap relief.
With major contract extensions looming for Stroud and emerging defensive standout Will Anderson Jr, Houston would be wise to start clearing financial space and invest in younger, cheaper talent through the draft.
Here are two veterans flying under the radar who could surprisingly be dealt before Week 1.
Schultz has been one of Stroud’s most reliable weapons since joining the Texans. The former has served as a security blanket across the middle and in red-zone situations. That said, for all of his production and leadership, Schultz’s presence on the roster may be more of a luxury than a necessity in 2025.
Why? Because of his contract, age, and the emergence of younger, cheaper options.
Schultz inked a multi-year deal with Houston after a strong stint in Dallas. Sure, he’s lived up to expectations on the field. However, his cap hit is beginning to look hefty, especially in the context of the Texans’ dwindling financial flexibility. With Houston’s long list of future expenses looming, Schultz is a logical candidate if the Texans start making business-first decisions.
Several factors support this scenario. First, the Texans...
